Keystone Plants of the California
California's Mediterranean climate is unique in North America — long dry summers, mild wet winters, and exceptional plant biodiversity. Native willows top the caterpillar rankings; coast live oak and valley oak support 270+ wildlife species. Ceanothus, found almost nowhere else, supports 120 caterpillar species.
States: CA
Level III Ecoregions in this region
Top Keystone Trees
Ranked by caterpillar species supported (NWF / Tallamy data)
| Genus | Common name | Caterpillar spp. |
|---|---|---|
| Salix | Arroyo / coyote willow | 328 |
| Quercus | Coast live / valley oak | 275 |
| Prunus | Oregon cherry / chokecherry | 262 |
| Ceanothus | California lilac | 120 |
Top Keystone Perennials
Ranked by pollen specialist bee species supported (Fowler data)
| Genus | Common name | Specialist bees |
|---|---|---|
| Ericameria | Goldenbush | 45 |
| Helianthus | Native sunflower | 41 |
| Chrysothamnus | Rabbitbrush | 40 |
Native Plants in the Directory
No plants in the directory for this region yet.
The directory is actively being expanded — check back soon.
Data source: Keystone plant rankings based on NWF Keystone Plants by Ecoregion and Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire (2020), Nature Communications. Specialist bee data from Fowler (2016), USDA Forest Service.
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